Cloth feeding mechanism for combination tea bag machines



Oct. `1, 1935 t L. HlRscHHoRN HAL 2,015,852

`CLOTH` EEEDING MECHANISM `FORGomsirmloN TEA BAG MACHINES "Filed Mayas', `1952 11 sheets-sheet 9` mvENToRs u; 1 Y' i The presentinven lonrelates o achlnes jgflarly in the manufacture ef Ybags forteaandother f subetance from `Which the` essence is to' be extracted, thevbags arequite small inosiae andfmust manufactured i in great quantities.n"A f'MIo feacllitatf` hef i manufacture of these bags, machines l have n een llsrud into-i which reffed illsbf with i or` other suitablernaterial n which `have previouslyr v been formed .finto "continuous sleeves` by o folding i thegclothover and sewing the vouter edgesthereof vision. This necessitatesan apparatus whichfvfill j` "correctly feed andposition the cloth vvithzrespect to a cutting mechanism and" siihseqiientlyJ the severedportions `thereoiuto a sewing rna'ohirie.` Afterthe sewing operation,the lopen bag should beiautomatically turnedinsiideoutland i111ed.`` The 30"" numbery and nature of `these operaticms"`,` to been; tirely-i `automatic plzaicesiaA considerable premium e uponr an efficiently 4designed mechanism liivhich functions accurately i and i `eiectivelv in `order that no `single `operation may `fail and thus impa the functioning of the entiremehanisrn.` o To improve `the present forms of L cloth feeding and `bag forming mechanisms, the present inven'-` l tionhas been designed itgis-an object ofrthis i invention to `provide a clot tieeding `rr`1e' "chanisi`n vvhichieffectively advances ahontinuous Asleeve n of clothl or other materialjto aifcuttingl` and` sevvin'g machine"` in i such i fashion;` that the ,n material )is lo moved in an improved manner to "insurey amore effective and positive handling thereof`.` ,i i

A `further objectief i theinveritionl is4 to provide a cloth feeding mechanism which maintains `a e predetermined slack;` from aisource of. material, n such as. alreel of clothl or a spoolupon which a continuousvsleeve hasbeenvwound. jg 1 A further object of the invention is` to provide a o cloth feeding mechanism wherein` an i improved devicefhasibeen embodied to creatga desired amount" of slackxin the supply of material which red.. i. i, i n A further object of the invention is to provide a i MEHNISMFOR COMBI- i 1 i f-MTIQNaTE BAGMeQHINES e ausA Irmvscherfevv York; iNiYi, *assignertovMlliegnPatent, Holding Co. 1I`nc.\,NevvYork Nair., acorpora "e e ppiifeetimifrrayze;ieszyserialhivof614mg 19,; oiaini's; realiza-roi formingfibags from a9A ontinuoussourcelofhrna-i",

e e provedvmechanism for feeding a continuoussupf o 5 plyofcloth or other materialto adevic'efor sever-V` V at one iside. Infexisting macliineatliernariipulaf n e ionyof these rolls of `lothto feedithefsariieiiitri i cutting and sewing `rifiecfhanisms `has i beenvthe jslhf ject of considerable attention in [as much as itis desirabletoadispense entirely with manual" Super? lig? Nerv` York cloth' Afeeding echanism wherein the material is fed to a cutting mechanismin the form of a sleeve; L the sides of whicharelseparated inaor'der that a severed" *length l ofA -`the sleeve may whe` held from withinl by` a device which carries thesevered por- 5V tion to a continuously operating sewing machine.

further object `off-the invention is :to provide an improved' cloth feeding mechanism by means offwhicha Acontinuous sleeve `of cloth for other material isfed measuredan'd variable quantif `10` tiesto a cutting' mechanism; theifee'dingamecha-n; nism being"A of an limproved and positive nature `whereby;rtlfi'elengths of the portionsjsevered from thesleeve are accurately maintained and the severed portions" are effectively` handled in subsel5 quent operations.v i L 1 n f further objectoffthe inventiondstoprovide o ai cloth `feeding and4`r bag lforming mechanism n vvheeinf'severed"portions `015 a sleevewof` suitable` material are Ahandledin ariimprovedJfashiondur-L 20` ing the operation of sevvingwthefsevered portions` across `one hendjthereofif i Eurtherjobjet's, rio't specifically enumerated above,` willnlb'e apparentes ther inventionisu` de`` scribed "irii greater dtailinlconnection with *the 25 accompanying drawings,"vvhereinz"` "1 Figure 1 is a" iew in end elevationshowing a cloth feedingand cutting mechanism constructed in accrdancefvvith the present invention;

ingame iso. afd tailed o iee'w-msection; taken in '36 plane parallel to that'efuligure "lf andlooking from I the 'opposite airecjtionwshcwing the improved `rn e o Al'ianisrn for 4forrningslack in the"materieal'fsup` plied tojthe feedingrriechanism o r' ll o Figur 3" isa detailed ievv taken from theleft 35 in `3If"igure 2Q and shovvirigitheQr clampirignieans for holding the niiiterail daringa 1g;ck\rormins1operation; n i ilFigure 4 is aview in section,` taken on line "4M ofgFigiire f3`, and looking inthe "direction of the 40 ""IigfureV 5fis`a plarr` viewof'ashort length of acloth "sleeve or tube sevved along one edge which is illustrated in section in Figure 4` and` which fay `liefjsuppliedito the feeding "mechansmlde' 45 scriloedhereinafter. "i e `I -4 l' w Fvigure is a `vievv in e section; taken on Aline 6j8 of'lFigure "5, and looking in thefdirection uoi! the arrows e i i `i "l Figure .7 is a partial planiview showingiithe 50 supportingandieeding mech nisniiise ineley; Figure a is a pintar` viewfinjjendelevation, showing al cam ivliieh `is "adapted to icpeeratex a,` cutting mechanism 'and a holding mechanisms in 55 f erating mechanism therefor.v

ea'f'teriai is fed prior to cutting. Fingers 5s and 59 vof the arrows. Y

such fashion that these mechanisms function in `a predetermined sequence.

Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 9--9 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view in end elevation showing a `cam which is adapted to actuate fingers for en-v gaging the interior of a severedsleeve section.

Figure 12 is a detailedr plan view of the4 tongue I or plate shown in the feeding mechanism of Figure l1.

Figurer 13 is a detailed plan view showing the'l mechanism for feeding lengths of material over f fingers which are adapted to hold the same dur-.

ing a cutting and sewing operation.

Figure 14 is a view in section, I4-I4 of Figure 13, and looking in the direction v Figure 15 is a view in end elevation showing the mechanism for cutting lengths of material supplied by the feeding mechanism shown in Figure 11.

Figure 16 is a view inside elevation, showing the operating mechanism for the sewing machine and fingerA carrying wheel which advances fthe severed lengths `of cloth from the cutting mechanism lthrough the sewing machine.

Figure 17 is aview in section, taken on line I1-I1 of Figure 16, and looking inthe direction of .the arrows,- this figure showing the guide ng'ers for guiding one end of the severed cloth section into the sewing machine. .Y

. Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, showing the operation of the guiding device in a direction opposite to that illustrated in Figure 17. Figure :19 isa plan view showing a bag formed of .thesevered section of cloth aftery the same has been sewed across one end thereof.

:Figure 20 is a vviewin end elevation, looking fromA the right in Figure 16, and showing the finger mounting wheel, sewing machine and opv Figure 21 is a view in end elevation showing the arms by means of which the material is engaged and `guided during the sewing operation. y With'reference'to the accompanying drawings,

the frame of a Ymachine constructed in accordance with'tlie presentinvention is illustrated at I. and is provided with a suitable source of power which is connected to a powerlshaft 2 which may be-.journaled -upon the frame in bearings 3. A

bracket 4 ismounted upon the frame and receives a spool 5 upon which a continuous sleeve of material may be wound in accordance with present.

practice. f

Material from the spool 5 .is fed to a cutting mechanism indicated at 6 in Figure I and described in ldetail hereinafter. From the cutting mechanism, the severed lengths of material are .carried'to a sewing machine 1 (Figure 1,6) by means of fingers 58 and 59 upon which `themamove outwardly against the sides of the section to be cut and thus frictionally hold the Vsame during the movement of such sections through the sewing machine and to a subsequent device .for

-inverting and filling the bags so formed.

In order that thev material may be fed' in predetermined lengthsto the cutting mechanism 6, a reciprocating head or-frame 9 is provided, the

frame being slidably mounted upon slide bars VI0 taken on line and Il (Figure l). Frame 9 carries an idle supporting roller I2 and a feed roller I3, the operation of which will be described in detail subsequently. Over the rollers I2 and I3, a metal plate' or tongue I4 is placed, the material being drawn rover the plate so that the latter is always enclosed by the material and guides the same effecp tively during its movement to the cutting mech- -of material between the slack producing device n from the reel is indicated as festooned at I5 and passes to the tongue or plate in a festoon I6.

During movement of the frame 9 to the left, as

viewed in Figure l, the material ls clamped against movement by means of a clamping head I1 and the slack producing device functions. In Figures 3 and 4, the clamping head will be seen as being formed of spaced guide members I8 within which guide slots I9 are formed. Slots I9 receive a guide rod 20 which is formed with a partially squared section 2|. A bottom plate 22 on the clamping head I1 is provided with slide rods 23 which are mounted slidably in the bottom plate 22 and are secured Ato a presser foot 24.r Springs 25 normally urge the presser foot upwardly and thus adapt the same to engage the bottom of the partially squared section 2l yieldingly when the clamping head I1 is moved-upwardly. Presser foot 24'thus forms a guide member over which the material passes to festoon be-v tween the plate or tongue I4 and the reel 5.

The upward movement of the head I1 is effected by means of a link 26v which is provided witha fitting 21 which is journaled upon a cross rod 28 secured between the side plates I8 of thevhead I1. Link 26 ispivoted to an 'arm 29 which is journaled upon a bracket 30 and formed with a roller 3I which is engaged by an operating cam 32 4 ,the arm 33 into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 to form sufficient slack in the material. To facilitate the slack forming operation, stationary guide members 31 are formed on the frame of the machine and the arm draws the material between such'rods as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

` Figures 5 and 6 illustrate one form of material which may be used in connection with devices constructed in accordance with the present invention and the sectional view in Figure 4 illustrates such material passing through'the clamping head when the latter is in its released or non-clamping.'-

position.

In as muchas the material must be fedV to thecutting mechanism successively in predetermined lengths, the movement of frame 9 must be properly controlled. Such control is effected by means Arm 33 is pivoted at 34 upon the frame l.

'fol

ndfebnsgiiently the extent" of .inV the xiiimrier-ilhispijatedinelfiiguref13;` Spring 20 imsX51willfthusbseentofinsure theseparatibn fthesides of thematerialfintordertheji; theisup portihg fingers mayloe-J received therein; gFurther f mOi/ement of the operatingcam' retraets plate x10@ pifovifievd gers 58 and' 59 are movedintoitheaposition `shown "ptihemateriall, "Figures 15ad zillustratelihe" 6c f frame |I3, and sewing machine 'I are moved in a which Vis secured to the member 90 (Figure 1). A link'98 `is connected between thefbifurcated members 95 andf'9'6 and thus thev movement of arm 93 isj'transmitted 'to" the shearing mechanism 6. The shearing mechanism is normally maintained in* the opened `position as seen in Figure 15 by engages an arm 9| means of 2 a spring 90@ which secured to shaft:9|.

. 1 After the cuttingroperati'on has -been completed the presser foot,'|5 is withdrawn from its holding position and the :wheel 62 is turned to position a subsequent pair `of supporting ngers inthe positionillustratedin Figure I5. The movement of f wheel 6215s effected by means-of gear teeth 99 which are formed'thereon andwhich are engaged by a drivingpinion'l 00. Pinion I 00-thus forms a ,drivingr connection between the wheel 62 and the frame of the sewing machine? to cause the movement of the frame of thefsewingv,machinato be transmitted tothe wheel when such frameis actuated by a .device-e described hereinafter. Periodic movement rof the 'frame of the sewingmachine thus' is transmitted to the wheel 62 and during the interval of pause between` successive frame actuations,` the driving connection between pinion I 00 and gear 99 permitsthe frame of the sewing machine tobemoved with respect to the wheel Y 62 inrorder that the sewing operation may take 5 Y, placeto sew one end `of the severed portion of the u ingsupportingngers 58and 59. vPinion |00 is driven by mechanism described as follows.

V-ion `I 00 ismountedgupon a shaft section |0| which material which is mounted upon the correspond- Pin- overhanging portion ofthe shaft |05 aspro'cket wheelf|09gis mounted, the sprocketwheel being driven by means of a chain (indicated in dot and dashflines in Figure 16) which isfdrivenby a driving sprocket I |0. Driving sprocketv I0 is mounted yuponashaft III which is driven by abevel gear I2 whichis connected to a driving bevel gear mounted vu pnnr power shaft` 2.,

The sewing machine] is( mounted upon a frame Y ||31 Figures 16 and 2 0) .which is journaled'upon a shaft' M4 concentric with the y,wheel 6,2. Frame f |,|,3 is provided wi'thabracket `||5 upon which the 'bearing |02 is'formed. `The frame 3 is reciprocatedby lineims of a'link' III; which. is pivlupon the frame of thev machine. Lever I |8 is pro- Eeuw' 20%.

,throughthe' pinion |00 rand gear 99 tothe wheel oted thereto at I I] and connected to a lever ||8 which journaled between arms ||9, mounted vided'with aV roller `|20 which engages la cam |2|, mounted uponpower shaft 2 (Figures 16 and 2 0). When-link4 I I6 is elevated "by vthe cam |2| the clockwise @direction about shaft ||4 as viewed in Such movement is transmitted 62 to position a subsequent pair of fingers in front 'of 'thev cutting mechanism and the frame 3 upon whichffthe"sewingmachine is ,mounted is moved about the wheel 62 in a counter-clockwise direction by miis Ofthe IOBtlOIl'Of Shaft `l 04 which iS imparted to thefpinionfl 0 01and gear 99. Such rotation feeds thesewing machine into the material supported'iipon the fingers 58 and59 and effects the sewingjoffone end thereof asv illustrated in Figure 19.. lknmuchasshaft |04 rotates continuously, "there will always be a relative move'- Aings, it is not -to belimited,

ment between the sewingmachine frame 3 and the wheel 62, in order that the sewing machine may sewl continuouslyand thatits operation may notbe impaired. Y

The sewing machine is driven by a belt |22 which passes over idler pulleys |23 and |24. Pulleys.|24, are mounted upon a4 frame |25 which is pivoted at` |26 and maintains a predetermined tension in the belt by means o f a spring |21.

The beltis mounted over a driving pulley |28 1 which is secured to a shaft |29 .and driven by a gear wheel |30 which engages a gear |3| upon the shaft |29. Wheel |30 is mounted upon a shaft |32 which is drlvenby a bevel gear connection |33 upon power shaft 2 r(Figure20) 1 In orderthat the wheel |52l maybe maintained in iixedv positions during the sewing and cutting operations, a ange |34 is formed thereon and provided with a plurality of spaced notches |35 correspending in number to the number of pairs of supporting fingers mounted thereon. Notches |35 are engaged4 by a spring-pressed finger |36 to hold the wheelagainst motionl during the foregoing operations.. Duringl the vupward motion of Vlink ||6.the spring of. detent |36 is overcome and the detent rides o ut of a notch and upon the surface of. fia-nge |34 to engagea subsequentnotch.

y When the cut sectionsare moved into the sewingmachinegitis necessary that the sides thereof be placed togetherfin theposition'in which they are to be sewed. A device for eiecting such condition is illustrated in detail in Figures 17 and 18, andthe operating'mechanism therefor Ais illustrated in Figures-16 and 20.f This device comprises a stationary backplate I3] which is secured to a bracket |38, carried bythe sewing machine frame ||3. '."I'he bracket |38 pivotally mounts an arm |39v at |40, an extension 4| of the arm |49 being` adapted toibe'engagedV by a detent |42 which is secured to the link' H6 as seen in Figures 16and 4 20. Arm |39 is provided witha bifurcated upper extremityand is adapted to engage the material upon the supporting ngers and movethe same against the backing platel |131 asl illustrated in Figures 17 and 18. The bifurcated extension permits the sewing'mechanismtoadvance over the materialjandthus insures that, the sides of the material are 'inithe proper position when the sewing needles advance into engagement therewith.

, It will thus' be' seenithat a* cloth feeding and5 bagy forming machine has been provided which effectively controls the movement of material from a continuous supply to' a cutting' mechanismv and subsequentlyto a sewing -machine lfor forming bags. y

VWhile the invention vh'asbee'n described with specific" reference to thev accompanying drawsave as defined in the appended' claims. i

We claim as'our invention:`

l. In combination with means for acting upon $0 a material and means to supplyV material. guide means for directing material from the supply to the'flrst means,V a presser foot cooperating with theguidemeans and adapted to engage G material between the foot and-:guide means, a

slack producing arm adapted to engage material between the presser` foot andsupply, `and means vto actuate the presser yfoot and arm simultaneously. f 0' 12. In combination with means for acting upon av material' and means to supply material,r guide means for directing materialfrom the supply tothe first means, said :guide means including a reciprocablehead having spaced sides slidably 7 Amounted i upon i at squared shaft, a" presserfoot slidablywmountedl on thehead andsadapted to `engage'the shaftiyieldirigly,`means`fto limit the movement i of'fthe` presser foqttowardthe shaft,

; s. 5Jand means to move 'thefhead:slidablyupon the s' i shaft to bring the presser` foot againsty -the j shaft.

63. In combination with means forfactingfupon a material"an`d` means "to" supply "material," -guide means fori directing lmateriel fromwthef` `supply `101 to ithepiirst means said guide means` including a reciprocablefhead `havir1g"`spaced`sidesfslidably mounted upon a squared shaft, aipresser foot ,slidablyumounted enrthe headand adapted to engagethe-shaft yieldingly, means to limit the 151movement` of the presser foottoward theshaft, an arm adapted to engage material between the `presser foot and supply to form slack therein, and means to move the head slidably upon the -shaft to bring the presser footgagainst the shaft, and subsequently to actuate the arm.` Y Y 4. Means foracting upon-materialgguide means ,s fordirecting materialto the `iirst means, means to` move-the guide means andmaterial toward the ,ilrst means, means to move the guide means 2o away from `the first means, and ,positive driving means to engage the material andmove the same `over the guide means during` movement of ,the `guide means awayirom the first means. i

5.`Me`ans for acting'upon `aterial, `a guide plate for, directing material "totheiirst means, a frame slidably mountedjwith respect to the ilrst means, means on the frame for `supporting the guide plate thereon, vmeans lato move. the `frame slidably, and means to` move the material over the guide plate. "I y l V 6. Means for acting upon material, a guide plate for "directing materialto the rst means. a frame slidablymountedwith respect. to the first means, rollers on `the `frame to support the 4o guide plate thereon,-means` to move the frame slidably, and means to turn onelof the` ro1lers.\

7. Means for acting upon material, a guide y plate `forfdirecting material` to theiirst means, p a frameslidably mountedwithlrespect to the 45 `iirst means, rollers on` the frame tosupport the guide plate thereon means tto Vmove the frame slidably, `arid means to turn one' of the rollers wsimultaneouslywith thesliding of the frame away from the first means. s 50s 8. Means for acting` `upon material, a guide plate for directing-material to the first means, a frame slidably mounted with respect to the l first means, rollers on the frame to support the guide plate thereon, means `tomove the frame slidably, means to turn one of therollers simultaneously? with the sliding Ioi the frame away fromthe first means, and vmeans toprevent turning movement "of thesaid one roller in the op-` posite direction." ,I V

9. Means for acting` upon material, la guide plate for directing material to the ilrst means, a` frame` slidably mounted with respect to vthe flrstmeans, rollerson the frame `to support the guide plate thereon,`means `to move Ithe frame 65 slidablyfand means to turn one of ,the rollers simultaneously with the slidingof theframe away from the rstmeans at a -peripheralspeed equal to the speed of motion ofthe frame.` s 10. Means for acting upon'materiaL a guide 70 plate for directing material to the first means, a` frame slidably mounted with respect to the iirst means, rollers on the frameto support the guide plate'thereon, means to move the frame slidably, means togturn one of thel rollers simul- 75 taneously with the slidinggofi` the frame away from thefifirst "means, "and a ratchetkand pawl mechanism between the frame and saidf one froller tozpreventturningof-` the "said roller inA one di-` rection: :sul: f, ,L1 i Li.:

i. .111 Meansfortactingupon u material, a guide plate for directing i; material to the @first means, a `frame slidably'mounted withrespe'cteto thelfirst means, rcllersionfthfe" frameto support the-` guide plate` thereonrxneans tomeve thefram'e' slidably, a flexible memberianchored 'atene fendaudsel0 cured at the,otherendftqaresilient member-,"sad flexible-member 4pas`sing` over one f the rollers, and a ratchet and pawlmechanism between the frame and said? one rollerfto prevent turning of saidrollerincnedirection. i

12. Means for acting upon material, a guide plate fordirecting `material tothe rst means, a frame slidably mountedjwith respect to the rst means, rollers ontheframe tosupport the guide plate thereon, means to move an operatingmem- .20 ber adapted to be moved in opposite directions, a link between the trame` and operatingmember, and meansto` adjust the connection between the link and member to vary the extent of movement 13. Means for acting uponmaterial, a guide plate for directing material to the firsty means, a frame slidably mountedwith respect 'to the iirst means, rollers on the frame to support the guide plate thereon, means to `movean operating -3 lever-.formed with1 an arcuate slot, and a link connected to the frame and adjustably connected to the slot., i 1

14. Means` foracting upon material, a guide plate for directing material to the first means, 35 a frame slidably mounted with respect to the :lirstA means, rollersgon theirame to support `the guide" plate thereon, mea-ns to move a linkpivotally connected to the frame, and a pivoted reciprocableoperating lever formed with a slot curved 40 about the pivoted connection` of the link to the y frame, and receiving the other end of the link adjustably,` l f s ,15, In combinationwith a wheel provided witha plurality ofpairs of arms adaptedto receive cutflengths of material, a cutting device, and means to supplymaterial to the device, means to move `thematerial supplying means toward and away fromthe cutting device and the arms, means to hold the material upon the arms, and common means to actuate the cutting mechanism andthe material supplying means.`

`16. In combination witha wheel provided with `a plurality of pairs f'arms adapted to receive cut lengths of material, a cutting device, and means to supply; materialv to the device, means to move the material supplying means toward and away f from the cutting device' and the arms, means to actuatethe cutting device between successive movements of the materiallsupplyng means, a pressure -foot to hold the material upon the arms, means to urge the presser foot against the arms during movement of the material supplying means away from thecutting device, and means to remove the `presser footV from the arms` `during movement ofthe material supplying means tol ward the cutting device."

17. n In'combination with a wheel provided with a plurality of pairs of arms adapted to receive `out lengths o! material, a sewing machine, a backing plate, a guide member adapted to` direct material to be sewed along the backing plate and into thesewing machine and meansl to move the guide toward and away from the backing plate, said backing plate and 'guide member be. 75

thev sewing machine.

( 18-..In combination with va wheel provided with a. plurality of pairs of arms adapted to receive out lengths of material, k a sewing machine, a backingv plate, and va guide memberadapted to relativemovement thereofwith respect to the .sewingfmachine wherebyl `the Asewing machine mayvadvanceinto materialbetweenthe plate and v guide member.

19. In combination with a wheel provided with a plurality of pairs ofv arms adapted to receive cut lengthsv of material, a sewing machine, a backing plateand a guide member adapted to vdirect material to be sewed along the backing plate and into the sewing machine, said backing plate and guide member being recessed to permit relative movement thereof with respect to-the sewing machinenwhereby the sewing machine may advance into material between the plate and guide member, and vmeans to move the guide member lwith respect. to the plate.

LOUIS I-IIRSCHHORN.

HANS IRMSCHER. 

